Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-05-07
A Lesson in Patriotism.

In the chapter Of @The Fairport
Nine relating TO the military company
Of the boys, it is told that those young
heroes had q standard presented to
them. Now this actually happened.
Our boys company was called the Han
cock Cadets, the county IN which our
town was situated being Hancock.
The name of the town is Castine, not
FairpOrt, as in the story. They were
twelve of us, and great was the success
Of our little band as trainers"
On the Fourth of July, 1910, the flag
was formally presented to our company
by the big sister of one Of the private
soldiers. As / was the standard-bearer
it became my duty to receive the ban
ner and to make a speech.
Our noble young captain drew us up
IN line before the great front door of
the house in which lived the young
lady who was to present the flag to u.s.
Accompanied by bevy of her bloom
ing companions, the young lady came
out on the top step, with great dignity,
and delivered the following address:
young soldiers, it is with pleasure
that I meet you on this glorious day,
so dear to every patriot, and present to
you a standard, whose Stars and
Stripes will show you that it is the true
American Flag. If, whenever you
march beneath 1t, you remember those
brave men who, under such a standard,
fought so long and nobly for our indie
pendence, and determine that when a
time Of danger shall come, you will de-
fend your country with firmness and
courage like theirs, can ask no more
Of You as New England soldiersl
Il do not wish you to love war. True
glory can be gained only when we fight
for Freedom. But wish you to love
your countryl Read the history of
Washington, the Father of his Coun-
try, and of the other heroes who
fought the battles Of the Revolution.
And read, too of those who, like the
illustriOus Harrison, have in later times
defended our land against its enemies.
Read the lives of such men, repeat,
and endeavor to be animated by their
spirit And L would have you
learn more Of your country-what a
broad and beautiful land it Is, and how
worthy TO be u patriots home. The
more you learn of it, the dearer it Will
be toyou; and you should become more
earnest to do all in your power to make
it free and happy. wish you to be-
heve that bad citizens are the worst
enemies of their country, for you will
then be likely to grow up good citi-
Zens, and try to make others so.
And now, after urging you once
more to be always ready to protect
every part of our beloved country, even
to the remOtest log-cabin that is built
upon its borders, 1 Will place in your
hands the Star-Spangled Banner.
Forever hoat this standard sheet!
Where breathss the foe but falls before u.s.
With Freedom soil beneath our feet.
And trsedOn's banner streaming Ger us 2 I"
The blushing young standard-bearer
received into his hand the Banner of
Freedom, and the captain ordered three
cheers, which We're given with a Will.
And now let me tell the sequel:
OF the handful of boys who stood
around the little standard bearer while
that lesson was given to the miniature
soldiers, one, the captain, fell in the
siege Of Port Hudson, q willing martyr
to the cause Of his country. Another,
= private IN the ranks, won in the army
Of the Republic a title and name for
courage and skill; and he was one of
the party who regained their liberty
by tunneling a passage out Of Libby
prison. A third. also a private, went
to the wars and, after renowned ser
vice, came home to spend his days in
peace and honor. A fourth, the drum
mer of the Castine cadets, commanded
In many a hard-fOught naval fight, de-
serving well of his country, and, when
peace had returned, he met his death
by the sudden sinking of his ship, the
man-Of-war Oneida, and now lies In his
lonely grave on the coast of Japan.
The lesson in patriotism was not In
vain.-NOah Brooks, IN st. Nicholas.